Fire-escape.



PATBNTED MAY 14, 1907..

E. F. G. GIBBS.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED APB.25.1906.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

a wwwu --1 N0.s5s s02; PATENTED MAY 14,1907.

E. F. e. GIBBS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR.25,1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

EDWARD F. G. GIBBS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed April 25, 1906. Serial No. 313,608-

To LLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. G. GIBBS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire escapes,of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a complete fire escape systemand parts appurtenant thereto which will not only furnish safe, simpleand accessible means of escape from a burning building, but improve onthe present means as an aid to the first discoverer of the fire andfiremen in readily entering a locked and burning building, rescuing thedisabled and in fighting the fire and protect itself againstdeterioration by exposure to the weather.

To this end, I have designed the centrifugally regulated friction brake,endless cable machine and parts appurtenant thereto, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and inwhich drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view through my fire-escapeapparatus and showing an extensible ladder locked in a closed relation.Fig.

is a detail view, in side elevation, of a friction shoe. Fig. 3 is adetail view of a spring which serves to normally hold the shoe out ofengagement from frictional contact. with a stationary friction rib. Fig.4 is a detail view of a collar support against which the spring isadapted to bear. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a chain-box bottom. Fig. 6is a sectional view through the chain-box bottom showing, in dottedlines, the position the chain assumes when rewound within the chain-box.Fig. 7 is a face view of an attachment to the extensible portion of theladder. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the detail shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9is a detail view of a'split clamp which is connected to the extensibleportion of the ladder and ada ted to frictionally engage the trip wireof t e fireescape, and Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the assembledhousing arrangement.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a bracket member which is adapted to be fastened by anysuitable means, as by a bolt B to a wall of a building, and has twoprojecting arms C having bearing members C at the ends thereof in whicha hollow shaft D is mounted, being held by means of set-screws D. Saidhollow shaft had journaled therein a shaft E which is held in placewithin the hollow shaft by means of a set-screw in the hub E at one endof the shaft and asprocketwheel F at the other end, which sprocket wheelis'fixed to rotate with said shaft.

G designates the fixed male member of the housing arrangement which iscalled the friction box, and. has an inturned horizontally disposedflange G, from which an annular vertically disposed friction rib orflange G projects far enough to allow any accumulated rust, dust, orcuttings to fall out of the way of the friction brake shoes H, shown inFig. 2, and whose vertical faces are angular with respect to each otherand adapted to engage frictionally the angular walls of the groove inthe said brake shoe, all of which is shown in Fig. 1. Said sprocketwheel has a flange F upon its. one side serving as a guard to pre ventthe chain from coming off the wheel, and on its other side is the flangeF having lugs F which are apertured to receive the arms F which arefixed to said lugs, said sprocket wheel, flanges and lugs beingintegral.

J designates a collar which is fixed to each of said arms and upon whicharms the shoes H are mounted by means of the end of the arm engaging arecessed aperture h formed in the shoe. Each of said shoes carrieswithin its recess a spring I adapted to bear between'the bottom of saidrecess h and a collar support I, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, said spring serving to normally hold the shoe in which itis mounted from engagement with the annular frictional rib G having theangular faces which have been described. In the drawings, there areshown two of said friction shoes diametrically disposed and adapted tobe thrown by centrifugal force against the annular rib G whereby thespeed of the rotating shaft may be regulated.

K designates the female member of the housing arrangement which iscalled the for the purpose of insuring a water-tight joint. Subjoined tothe lower portion of the 1 housing and integral therewith is themouthpiece K and an opening K in the lower periphery of the housingopens the way for the chain to pass through to the sprocket wheel.

The said housing is held by bolts K to the said friction box which ismounted upon the hollow shaft D. To the lower portion of said I form asupport for said bottom N.

1nouth-piece is securely attached the cylindrical chain-box or storageapartment N, the third member of the housing arrangement, the axialcenter of which is at or near a right angle to that of the housing K,and in which the chain or cable of the fire-escape is adapt-' ed to behoused. Said chain-box 'N has a movable or falling bottom N, the fourthand last member of the, housing arrangement, which fits loosely withinthe open lower end of the chain-box and is held by the trip pin P and,being weighted by the chain, it readily falls when released. Anarresting rope or chain 0 is secured to said member N and its other endfastened to a spring supported pin O which is mounted in an aperturedlug n integral with the housing K, said pin being made spring-actuatedin order to take up the jar incident to the falling of the bottom N.

The escape chain Q, which is endless, passes over said sprocket wheeland is normally stored in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,within the chain-box and supported by said chain-box bottom.

Pivotally mounted upon a pin P held by a lug upon the side of saidchain-box is a trip pin P, the lower free end of whichis angled and isadapted to pass through an opening R in the lower portion of thechain-box and to Areleasing trip wire R is fastened to said trip pin Pand passes over the protected pulley R and is adapted to extend downadjacent to the windows of the building to the ground within convenientreach of the person who may operate the same to release the escapechain. Mounted upon the side of the building is an extensible or movableladder made up preferably of two sections L and L which are held insliding relation with each other by means of straps L one of which isshown in elevation in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A pulley L is journaledupon the section L of the ladder, and a rope L passes over said pulleyand has a weight L secured to one end while its other end is fastened tothe upper part of the lower section of the ladder, the purpose of saidweighted rope being to counter-balance the weight of the extensibleportion L of the ladder. At any suitable location upon the ladder, ahook member L is fastened, a detail of which hook member is shown inFigs.

7 and 8 of the drawings, and around which a strand of the escape chainQis adapted to be thrown and caught when it is desired to pull down theextensible portion of the ladder, it being understood that the ladder isnormally held, when not in use, in the position shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

Fastened to the extensible portion of the ladder is an eye M having awire M fastened.

thereto and to which wire a split-clamp M is fastened and which isadapted to engage frictionally the trip wire R. The object of thisfeature is to force a burglar, who may attempt to pull down theextensible ladder with a pole or other means, to pull the trip wirealso, which causes the chain to fall giving the alarm by the loudrattling noise of the falling chain. I

Fixed to the shaft E is a sheave E about which an endless chain E workswhich is utilized for the purpose of rotating the shaft E to rewind thechain within the chain-box. In taking up or housing the chain in thechain-box, both strands of the chain are first placed, one in the slot Nin the upper edge of the wall and the other in the cavity N of thechain-box bottom shown in Fig. 5. It is then slipped up into thechain-box in the manner shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that one link Nmay be placed in the constricted slot N through which it cannot pass, orengaged and held by other means, while through the opposite cavity N itwill pass freely to and over the sprocket wheel and accumulate in a pilein the chain-box as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by the rotarymovement of the shaft E. It will be noted that when the chain isentirely wound up, a portion thereof will assume the position shown inFig. 6 of the drawings, which will be entirely housed and out of reachof the elements, thus preventing corrosion of the chain. This result isattained by the deep channel or depression N across the bottom of thechain-box bottom, which depression terminates at one end with the slot Nand cavity 1 5 at the other.

In operation, when it is desired to release the escape chain, theoperator, by pulling down upon the trip wire R, will cause thetrip pin Pto be released from the chain-box bottom N and the latter which supportsthe chain within the chain-box, will fall by gravity until arrested bythe arresting chain or rope 0, while the escape chain Q will fall, insuspended position, nearly to the ground. One strand of the chain, afterfalling from the box, may be thrown around the hook L and, by pullingdown upon the chain, the extensible portion of the ladder may be drawndown, thereby men and other persons may enter the builde ing. Theangular shape of the forked part of the hook L does not permit theascending strand of the chain to engage it, if one comes ICC affordingmeans whereby firev down on the chain before the lower section of theladder is drawn down. A person to be lowered by the escape chain mayhave a belt or chain of any suitable kind placed about his or her bodyand caught in the links of the escape chain Q. The weight of the personthus secured upon the chain will cause the sprocket wheel to rotaterapidly and the centrifugal force due to the rapid rotary move ment ofthe said sprocket-wheel will be suflicient to overcome the tension ofthe springs, at a moderate speed, and cause the friction shoes H to bethrown out and engage the fixed friction rib G thus serving as anautomatic means for regulating the descent. After the person has reachedthe ground, the centrifugal force will be destroyed by the slackening upof the rapid rotary movement of the sprocket wheel, and the springs Iwill cause the shoes to be returned to their normal positions which willbe out of contact with the friction rib G thus allowing the sprocketwheel to rotate freely, at a moderate speed, without friction from theshoesv when it is desired to use the machine as a hoist.

From the foregoing, it is seen that a waterproof housing arrangement isprovided for the chain and all the working parts of the device, which iswell adapted to lowering persons and to hoisting the iiremans hose aswell and which, combined with the extensible ladder as shown, affordsthe ready means of entering a locked and burning building to awaken thesleeping inmates, which is often the first essential in the work ofrescue. This unique arrangement enables the unaided first discoverer ofthe fire to pull the trip wire, which lets the chain fall into asuspended position, and with it he hauls down the ladder from which heenters the building, while for the would-be burglar the loud rattlingnoise of the falling chain is an alarm, and if he attempts to pull downthe ladder with a pole, the split-clamp pulls the trip wire also whichlets the chain fall, giving the alarm. The value of this combination isfurther seen in considering the fact that, while an automaticallyregulated endless chain escape is economical in space and cost, safe andrapid in lowering persons, although they be unconscious, it isimpracticable for an unaided person or for a large number of firemen toenter a building at one time from it and, while the ladder is adequatefor firemen and athletes, it is very hazardous for women, children andthe aged, nor is it safe for a fireman to descend with an unconsciousperson, consequently the value of the combination.

What I claim is 1. In a fire-escape machine, the combination of a fixedmember, as G, having an annular surface adapted to frictionalengagement, a sprocket wheel, an endless chain or cable passing over thesaid. wheel, an arm projecting from the said wheel, a friction brakeshoe carried by the said arm and having at its periphery a bearingsurface adapted to frictional engagement with the said fixed member anda spring external to the said arm and internal to the said. brake shoe,which holds the said shoe out of engagement with the said fixed memberuntil overcome by the centrifugal force due to the rapid rotation of thesaid sprocket wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape machine, the combination of a fixed member, as G,having an annular bearing surface adapted to frictional engagement,which projects radially therefrom and serves to expel particles of dust,

.rust and cuttings, a sprocket wheel, an endless chain or cable passingover the said wheel, an arm projecting from the said wheel, a frictionbrake shoe carried by the said arm and having at its periphery a bearingsurface adapted to frictional engagement with the said fixed member anda spring external to the said arm and internal to the said brake shoewhich holds the said shoe out of engagement with the said fixed memberuntil overcome by the centrifugal force due to the rapid rotation of thesaid sprocket wheel,

substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-escape machine, the combination of a fixed member, as G,having a projecting annular vertically disposed friction rib, as G withangular bearing surfaces, a sprocket wheel, an endless chain or cablepassing over the said wheel, an arm projecting from the said wheel, afriction brake shoe carried by the'said arm, having at its periphery agroove with bearing surfaces adapted to frictional engagement with thesaid friction rib and a spring which holds the said shoe out ofengagement with the said rib until overcome by the centrifugal force dueto the rapid rotation of the said sprocket wheel, substantially as setforth.

4. In a fire escape, the combination with a hollow shaft, a housingsupported upon said hollow shaft, a solid shaft journaled in said hollowshaft, a sprocket wheel fixed to the inner end ofsaid solid shaft, anendless chain passing about said wheel, means for rotating said sprocketwheel whereby said chain may be raised, a chain box connected to saidhousing, a removable bottom to said box and adapted to support thechain, a support for the bottom, and means for releasing said bottom, asset forth.

5. As an article of manufacture, a male member of a housing arrangementhaving an internal horizontally disposed flange from which flangeprojects an annular radially disposed rib, whose faces are angular toeach other and adapted to frictional engagement, substantially as setforth.

6. As an article of manufacture a chain box, a movable chain box bottomtherefor,

IIO

having the means of engaging and holding one strand of an endless chainor cable and an opening through which the other strand of the said chainmay pass up freely when the said bottom is in its normal position at thelower part of a chain box to which it is adapted, substantially as setforth.

I 7. In an endless cable machine, the combination of a fixed male memberof the housing arrangement having an internal horizontally disposedflange, a female housing member having an external horizontally disposedflange which is adapted to telescope or incase the said male member andan internal opening through the lower'p ortion of its periphery throughwhich opening a chain is adapted to pass, a chain box attached to thelower portion of the said female housing member Whose axial center is ator near a right angle to that of the said female member, and a movablechain box bottom having the means for engaging and holding one strand ofan endless chain and a cavity through which the said endless chain maybe'drawn up into the said chain box when thesaid bottom is in its normalposition at the lower end of the said chain box, substantially as setforth.

8. In an endless chain machine, the combination of a sprocket wheel, anendless cable or chain, a housing arrangement having a movable bottomwhich bottom is provided with means for engaging and holding one strandof the said cable or chain and an open cavity through which the otherstrand may pass freely up over the said wheel and be deposited in thesaid housing arrangement, substantially as set forth. I

9. In an endless chain machine, the combination of an endless, chain, ahousing arrangement having a movable bottom provided with means forengaging and holding one strand of the said endless chain, an opencavity through which the other strand may pass freely and a channelacross its bottom into which the short externally remaining portion ofthe chain may be drawn up and housed when the greater part of it ishoused within the said housing arrangement, substantially as set forth.

' 10. In an endless chain machine the combination of an endless chain, ahousing arrangement having a movable bottom provided with means forengaging and holding one strand of the said endless chain and a cavitythrough which the other strand may pass freely and a tripping mechanism,the displacing of which allows the said chain to fall into a suspendedposition, substantially as set forth.

11. In a fire-escape system, the combination of a building, a chainhousing arrangement attached thereto, a revoluble support inclosedin-the said housing arrangement, an endless chain passing over the saidsupport, a movable bottom attached to the said housing arrangement, thedisplacing of which allows the said chain to fall into a suspendedworking position, a movable ladder attached to the said building andmeans attached to the said ladder for engaging and holding the saidchain by which the said ladder may be raised and lowered, substantiallyas set forth.

12. In a fire-escape system, the combination of a building, a chainhousing arrangement attached thereto, a sprocket wheel inclosed in thesaid housing arrangement, an endless chain passing over the said wheel,a detachable chain box bottom attached to the said housing arrangement,a tripping mechanism, the operation of which causes the chain to fall,an extensible ladder attached to the said building and means ofattaching the said ladder to the said tripping mechanism to the end thatthe said chain will fall automatically with hauling down of the ladderfor the purpose of sounding an alarm, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. EDWARD F. G. GIBBS. Witnesses:

A. L. OU'GH, FRANKLIN A. HoUeH.

